Carrier Classic basketball tournament cancelled early after moist conditions

Image by Still image by U.S. Navy

The much anticipated pair of basketball games atop the World War II-era aircraft carrier Yorktown were due to be played Friday, but were canceled mid-run after court was simply too wet and wouldn't dry.

The Carrier Classic organizers write,

The women’s game featuring Notre Dame and Ohio State tipped off the NCAA season in bright sunshine, and was the first ever women’s game to be played on an aircraft carrier and captured the special atmosphere of the setting. In a battle of Top 25 teams Notre Dame defeated Ohio State 57-51.

As the sun set prior to the tip of Men’s game the temperature dropped rapidly, causing condensation to accumulate on the playing surface. 

Officials, coaches and Morale agreed on a 30 minute delay to dry the floor and re-evaluate at the end if it was safe to play.  At the end of the break the floor surface was re-evaluated and it was determined that the condensation still existed, and the game would not be played and was declared “no contest”.  

Team schedules did not leave the possibility to reschedule.

Live 5 News offers a video report that you can watch up top or over here.

The men's game was due to match Ohio State against Marquette.

So far organizers are saying that a return of the event to Charleston in 2013 is still happening.

This Carrier Classic benefited the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, The Wounded Warrior Project, and The Congressional Medal of Honor Society. 

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